Molly Shoup

Molly Sue Nooe Shoup died of natural causes on August 9, 2025 at the age of 82. 

Virginia Davis Nooe and Gilbert Nooe were excited to announce the arrival of Molly Sue Nooe in Ashland, Kentucky on April 25, 1943.

While Molly Sue was in preschool, Gilbert’s work took the family to Norfolk, Virginia. Molly remembered fondly going to Virginia Beach, beautiful azaleas and stopping at oyster shacks. The family then moved to Maysville, Kentucky where her father was an owner and the manager of a fertilizer factory. Molly Sue’s formative years were all in Maysville where she established strong friendships that lasted through the rest of her life – Molly always let everyone know she was a Maysville girl.

Molly’s passion growing up was art which led her to enroll in the University of Cincinnati’s School of Design, Architecture & Art after she graduated from Maysville High School in 1961. Molly graduated with a dual degree in Fine Arts and Art Education, and then became an art teacher in the Covington, Kentucky school system.

Molly met David Shoup early during her enrollment at UC and they dated through all her college years. They married in December 1965 when she was a Covington teacher and Dave was finishing his UC studies.

After Dave’s graduation, Molly began teaching art in the Northville, Michigan school district while Dave started studying in Michigan.

In 1968, Molly and Dave moved to Queens, New York and in October Rebecca, Molly and Dave’s first child, was born. Michele, their second daughter (now deceased), was born in 1970 in Princeton, New Jersey. Sarah, their third daughter, was born in 1981 in Bogota, Colombia.

Between 1968 and 2000, Molly created homes for her family in Queens, Aruba, New Jersey (various times), Venezuela (3 times), Colombia, Malaysia and Texas. Molly endeavored to create connections among the various expat communities with each move. Partial to holidays and birthdays, Molly always found ways to celebrate life along the way.

In 2000, Molly and Dave decided to move closer to their three daughters who had all found themselves living in Seattle. They moved to Whidbey Island, Washington where Molly helped design a beautiful home with rooms for family visits. Molly enjoyed many years in their new home creating beautiful encaustic works while surrounded by the natural beauty of Whidbey Island. She took to island living and developed friendships among local artists, neighbors and dog park frequenters.

In 2018 Molly and Dave transitioned to Horizon House, a senior living facility in Seattle, where she made many new close friends. Horizon House was her home until her death. Molly will be remembered for her southern charm; being a forever art teacher at the ready with encouragement for all artistic endeavors; her love for travel; her determination and resolve to not let health challenges get the better of her; and her partiality for caramel popcorn and chocolate covered cherries.

She was an exceptional wife, mother and grandmother. Forever finding ways to enrich and guide her family.

In addition to Dave, Rebecca and Sarah, Molly is survived by her grandson Nate Hirsch and granddaughter Mira Hirsch.